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Diabetes & Eye Problems

Diabetes is a very serious disease that can cause problems such as blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputations. But by taking good care of yourself through diet, exercise, and special medications, you can control diabetes. And there is more good news. Diabetic eye disease, a complication of diabetes, can be treated before vision loss occurs.

All people with diabetes need to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year.

What is diabetic eye disease?

Diabetic eye disease refers to a group of eye problems that people with diabetes may face as a complication of this disease. All can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.

Diabetic eye disease includes:

Diabetic retinopathy: Damage to the blood vessels in the retina.

Cataract: Clouding of the lens of the eye.

Glaucoma: Increase in fluid pressure inside the eye that leads to optic nerve damage and loss of vision.